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Exhuming a deceased body

It is generally quite rare for a body to be exhumed, and the process is usually traumatic for the family involved. It can take a long time to make arrangements to exhume a deceased body and it is usually expensive. For these reasons, it is always best to consult with all the relatives before proceeding.

What are the reasons to exhume a body?

There are a number of reasons to exhume a body. These include:

Moving the body from the original grave to a family plot acquired at a later date in the same or another cemetery

What are the requirements needed to exhume a body?

If the person is buried in consecrated grounds, the church must give permission for it to be exhumed. Consecrated ground is ground that is 'dedicated to the service of God according to the right of the Church of England'. The term consecration means to be 'set apart, or separated, for use by the Lord'. The permission from the church is often in the form of a Bishop's Faculty.

It is an offence to exhume any human remains without the necessary lawful permissions. The Burial Authority that runs the cemetery, or a Funeral Director, can help in obtaining these.

Occasionally, cadaver certificates are required in addition to exhumation licences.

Decency and safety

An Environmental Health Officer must be present when the body is exhumed. They will supervise the event to ensure that:

There is respect for the deceased person

There is no risk to public health

The correct grave is opened

The body is exhumed as early as possible in the morning to ensure maximum privacy

There is appropriate screening around the plot for privacy

Health and safety standards are met. All workers must wear protective clothing including masks and gloves, task lights and all other necessary equipment

Everyone present shows due respect to the deceased person and to adjoining graves

The nameplate on the casket corresponds to that on the licence

The new casket is satisfactory

All human remains and all the pieces of coffin/casket are placed in the new coffin/casket

The new casket is properly sealed

The area of exhumation is properly disinfected

Satisfactory arrangements are in place for the onward transmission of the remains

Also present will be someone from the Burial Authority that runs the cemetery. The Burial Authority Officer and the Environmental Health Officer will, between them, ensure that:

The exhumation may not proceed if:

The conditions of the licence cannot be met

There are public health or decency concerns

Require more information?

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